Aberdeen University staff are to vote on strike action in a row over job losses.

Plans to slash £1.5m from its medical school's budget have put a number of positions under threat.

More than £8.6m worth of cuts have already been made towards the university's overall target of £10.5m.

Aberdeen University and College Union representative Derek Dawson said: "Nobody wants to take industrial action but UCU members at Aberdeen feel they have no choice.

"The university has already made considerable savings through a voluntary redundancy scheme and we are dismayed that it is handing out redundancy notices at this time.

"It has broken its promise to freeze recruitment in an effort to mitigate the need for job losses.

"We believe getting rid of experienced and dedicated staff will do nothing for Aberdeen's reputation."

The ballot on industrial action will close on November 21.

A University of Aberdeen spokesman said: "We continue to have constructive dialogue with representatives of all of our recognised Trade Unions and we are disappointed to see UCU balloting its members on industrial action.

"Following the closure of a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, a small number of staff within the School have been placed at risk of redundancy.

"The School employs nearly 900 staff and at this stage we anticipate fewer than eight posts will be lost. All steps are being taken to mitigate the redundancies."